FEDERER SHOOTS A COOL COMMERCIAL

Written by: Staff on 14th December 2014

FEDERER SHOOTS A COOL COMMERCIAL |

I am Andy Fitzell, the man in the box. So, who cares? Well, if you want to know just how Roger Federer is able to hit with such amazing accuracy on his forehand or how #1 ranked doubles player Bob Bryan bombs his serve, you might want to read on.

No, I am not a professional mime as some have suggested; I am a tennis coach and researcher. For the past several years, the forward thinking minds of those who run the BNP Paribas Open have granted tennis icon (and my mentor of 25 years), Vic Braden and me, a very special privilege: to station 3 small cameras on stadium court to capture footage of today’s elite players.

In the computer lab, I then use this footage and a sophisticated software program to digitize the players’ body joints, five parts of the racket, and the ball, frame by frame. The result is rendered as a skeletal image (figure 1.) Body segments and the racket, can then be calculated for speed, acceleration, degrees of movement, racket head placement at ball contact, and many more kinematics. Vic and I then use this important information to train coaches, help players enhance performance, and prevent injury.

For example, Roger Federer swings out and up towards his target for over 4 feet before finishing across his body. Take your racket and try to swing through a doubles alley (which is 4.5 feet in width) and you will get the feel of how Roger extends his arm on his forehand. Doubles champion Bob Bryan’s serve toss only drops 3 inches before contact, which helps him maintain a continuous motion and makes timing the hit easier. The reverse is true with a high toss.

So why the box? Let me explain. The box, or The Grid, as I call it, is filmed on the court before and after match play. It is later digitized and used as a spatial reference which allows the computer to make the important calculations. Without the grid none of this is possible.

So if you ever see the man in the box, smile and say hello, because he is not a professional mime or a walking art exhibit, but someone passionate about improving the game of tennis around the globe.

Editor’s Note: Also, here is the link to the Wilson Tennis commercial with Fed…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHiRrqGW93o

You can contact Andy Fitzell: andy@fitzelltennis.com

Topics: Andy Fitzell, Bnp Paribas, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Roger Federer, Tennis News, tennis technology, Vic Braden, Wilson tennis news

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

March 11, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Man in the box analyzes Roger Federer – By @andyfitzell – http://t.co/2DQvrcVP7R @BNPPARIBASOPEN @rogerfederer #tennis @WilsonTennis
andyfitzell says:

March 11, 2014 at 7:53 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Man in the box analyzes Roger Federer – By @andyfitzell – http://t.co/2DQvrcVP7R @BNPPARIBASOPEN @rogerfederer #tennis @W…
tenniswriters says:

March 12, 2014 at 6:26 am

RT @joeldrucker: Nifty story on tennis data from sharp and smart coach Andy Fitzell http://t.co/lDNmcF6B75
stevepratt310 says:

March 12, 2014 at 7:37 am

RT @joeldrucker: Nifty story on tennis data from sharp and smart coach Andy Fitzell http://t.co/lDNmcF6B75
agentatleta says:

March 12, 2014 at 4:42 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Man in the box analyzes Roger Federer – By @andyfitzell – http://t.co/2DQvrcVP7R @BNPPARIBASOPEN @rogerfederer #tennis @W…
10sBalls_com says:

October 30, 2014 at 3:54 pm

#FEDERER SHOOTS A COOL COMMERCIAL- http://t.co/yvkofwfZ13 #tennis @rogerfederer @RFedererFanClub #RogerFederer
ikesenmarble says:

October 30, 2014 at 3:57 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: #FEDERER SHOOTS A COOL COMMERCIAL- http://t.co/yvkofwfZ13 #tennis @rogerfederer @RFedererFanClub #RogerFederer
10sBalls_com says:

December 14, 2014 at 4:19 pm

FEDERER SHOOTS A COOL COMMERCIAL- http://t.co/UKYrErcboy @rogerfederer #tennis #Federer #tennisnews #RF #commercial #amazeballs